Still trying to figure this one out: What’s worse, that UM’s staff knew the extent of Stephen Morris’ ability but chose to keep him buried on the depth chart or that it had no idea what a talent the team had on its hands in the freshman quarterback?Continue reading “Grading Miami Hurricanes vs. Maryland”

Randy Shannon’s post-game comment that Jacory Harris remains the starting quarterback when he returns from a concussion is sure to infuriate UM fans.

Harris may not be back any time soon, so this might be a moot point for another couple of weeks. But let’s say Stephen Morris helps Miami beat Georgia Tech next week in Atlanta. Can Shannon possibly hand the job back to a healthy Harris for the Virginia Tech game? The one thing Harris has lacked at UM since the transfer of Robert Marve two years ago is competition. In the past couple of seasons, Harris could string a couple of bad games together and know with certainty he was starting the next week. No more. Judging by his spectacular debut performance in a starting role, Morris should get a chance to prove he’s not a boy wonder.

After wilting last week against Virginia, UM’s defense redeemed itself with big plays and key stops on Saturday.

The biggest disappointment in the loss to Virginia was the reaction by UM’s defense to adversity. The Hurricanes allowed the Cavaliers to convert two third-down situations and run out the game’s final 4:30. On Saturday, the defense atoned by holding Maryland to a key three-and-out late in the fourth quarter, allowing Stephen Morris a chance to win the game. Ray Ray Armstrong also had a big interception in the third quarter with Maryland inside UM’s red zone while trailing by one point.

Eight games into the season, the Hurricanes don’t seem any closer to resolving their issues with penalties.

No question, a couple of calls against Miami on Saturday were dicey. But the Hurricanes entered the game 118th out of 120 FBS schools in penalties for a reason. Have the ‘Canes played a game this season without at least one illegal procedure? One can forgive a certain lack of discipline early in the season, but this is a veteran team making the same mistakes late in the year. Stephen Morris faced a 3rd-and-11 instead of a 3rd-and-6 on the game-winning drive because senior Leonard Hankerson moved early. That’s the definition of bonehead.